Emily Dickinson Lexicon

HALT, v.i. [Sax. healt, halt, lame; healtian, to limp; G. halt, a hold, stop, halt; halten, to hold; Sw. halt, halta; Dan. halt, halter; from the root of hold.]

1. To stop in walking; to hold. In military affairs, the true sense is retained, to stop in a march. The army halted at noon.
2. To limp; that is, to stop with lameness.
3. To hesitate; to stand in doubt whether to proceed, or what to do. How long halt ye between two opinions? 1 Kings xviii.
4. To fail; to falter; as, a halting sonnet. Shak.